Easter is the second biggest candy holiday in the United States, as 87% of Americans will buy or create an Easter basket. Total annual spending on Easter candy has been $2.1 billion with over 120 million pounds of Easter candy purchased. Over 70% of the candy purchased is chocolate and 16 billion jelly beans are […]
Born to Crave: Origins of the Sweet Tooth
We all know it is nearly impossible to tear a child away from something sweet. Sugary foods and drinks can be a foolproof go to for any frazzled parent who needs their toddler to sit still. But have you ever wondered why children have this insatiable desire for all things sweet? Well, simply put, blame […]
Halloween Safety for Children with Food Allergies
For most kids, Trick or Treating is an exciting event. But, for children with food allergies, it can be quite scary. Chocolate can be terrifying if you are allergic to milk, and a candy bar with nuts can be life-threatening for some children. Eggs, soy, wheat and certain food dyes are other common ingredients that […]
See the Cookie, Want the Cookie!
Are you attracted to food when you see it? Most of us tend to get hunger when we view food pictures we like. Researchers at the University of South California (USC) found that our brain centers of appetite and reward are triggered by viewing pictures of food, especially high-fat foods. From past studies we know […]